脊背 (jǐ bèi) — back (of a human or animal body, especially the…

Definition

noun

back (of a human or animal body, especially the spine area)

Measure word · 个

脊背。
Tā de jǐ bèi hěn zhí.
His back is very straight.
脊背。
Tā zuò jiǔ le jǐ bèi huì téng.
If he sits for a long time, his back will hurt.
脊背。
Mǎ de jǐ bèi hěn qiáng zhuàng.
A horse's back is very strong.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

脊 names the spine and 背 names the back, together referring to the back area.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

肉肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

朿

朿cì脊jǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The original drawing of 脊 showed a fish spine; later 肉 (flesh) was added to point to the meaning, while the upper 朿 part supplied the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

北月背

Meaning part形符xíngfú

月Written in full as肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

北

Same sound today

背 was first written as 北; 北 gives the sound, and 肉 (meat, written as 月 here) was added to separate it from 北’s north meaning.

Appears in